Abstract: Sealants are a vital part of a building’s environmental barrier envelope. Their ability to bond to numerous dissimilar substrates and form cure-in-place seals results in their widespread use throughout single story and high rise buildings. A typical 40 story concrete and glass facade building can have 70 miles of sealant bonds. Failure of sealants can lead to energy loss and widespread moisture ingression resulting in cosmetic and structural damage as well as the potential for mold colonization. Therefore, increasing the durability of sealants is of significant economic value. In this research program we are seeking to discern the significance of environmental and strain effects on sealant durability. Sealant bonded specimens are fixtured on automated test instruments outdoors that impose hot compression/ cold tension strain cycling in accordance with the temperature of exterior panels simulated here by a section of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) pipe. The effect of application conditions is investigated by prestraining the sealants. Herein we report the results of 17 months of continuous outdoor exposure.

FPL's mission is to identify and conduct innovative wood and fiber utilization research that contributes to conservation and productivity of the forest resource, thereby sustaining forests, the economy, and quality of life. ...
..more »

We all know the compelling reasons that the United States needs to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. Historically, the greatest increases in energy demand have been for transportation fuels ...
..more »

Forests in the United States contain a substantial amount of small-diameter, overstocked, and underutilized material.FPL research projects are exploring the potential of the small-diameter ...
..more »